WRX Spotlight: Dormie Workshop’s leather headcovers

Pitch: Dormie, like so many other businesses, started with just an idea: Every customer should have the opportunity to be involved in the process of designing a unique piece just for them. In 2014, the Bishop brothers, Jeff and Todd, started to produce their own line of signature covers from a small shop in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia…and the business has grown and expanded substantially since.

Our take

What do you get when you take two passionate golfers that have a desire to create something truly unique, and love the idea of bringing something fresh to the golf landscape? Dormie Workshop from Nova Scotia, Canada.

What started with a couple social media accounts has become a small empire for these laid-back East Coasters, who have a serious drive to deliver quality to the consumer. Very much like their close neighbor, Cabot Links (who Dormie incidentally also makes a line of custom head covers for), a quiet whisper in the industry from a place not widely known as a destination has become a shout from the rooftops.

Dormie has created designs for celebrities and athletes like Wayne Gretzky, tour player David Hearn, all the way to the humble Canadian wedge master Bob Vokey at Titleist, in addition to numerous custom designs for golfers all over the world.

We recently caught up with the brothers again at the PGA Show in Orlando to discuss what’s new for their growing company and how they continue to expand their unique offerings across the globe. One of the most exciting additions to the lineup the Bishops mentioned is a printed leather from Italy, that can be fully customized (with the certain order size and lead time) along with a growing contingent of funny themes and creatures.

For these golf-loving brothers and former professionals, it’s about more than just creating cool leather goods, though. They are heavily involved in their local golf community, teaching golf and working with people with disabilities. Being positive role models in the community is another driving force behind the company’s philosophy.

If you do happen to follow Dormie on their social accounts. including Instagram, there is a constantly updated feed filled with amazing designs and some funny shenanigans.

The emphasis on fun and creativity, along with the continuous flow of wonderful ideas from their customers looking to bring their own ideas to life, pushes Dormie to continue its evolution — and find its covers in more golf bags around the world.

2 Comments

I live in Nova Scotia and went through the process of creating a my own headcover with these guys a couple years ago. It was a great process and ended up with a one of a kind design we collaborated on. If your a gear junkie then having your own custom headcovers is a small price to pay for a great personal look.

WRX Spotlight: Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized laser rangefinder

Pitch: From Nikon: “This state-of-the art golfing laser rangefinder packs the stability of the Coolshot 80’s vibration reduction into an even more streamlined body. The red Oled internal display’s automatic brightness adjustment makes viewing easy in any light, while Hyper Read measurement response time is a speedy 0.3 seconds (approximately) over a range of 7.5-1,090 m. Locked On technology quickly defines overlapping subjects so you’ll be sure of an accurate reading to the flagstick, plus ID Technology gives a guide distance for uphill and downhill courses.”

Our take on the Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized laser rangefinder

Nikon has packed the Coolshot Pro Stabilized full of innovative features with a hugely beneficial streamlined profile. But we’ll get around to that a little later, as at the core of this laser rangefinder is its Stabilized Technology.

Whether it’s the conditions, or an inability to keep your hand perfectly steady when shooting your target, the issue of vibration is usually the main problem when it comes to rangefinders. However, with Nikon’s Stabilized Technology, that vibration is reduced by approximately 80 percent. The steadiness of the rangefinder may need to be seen to be believed, but with the Coolshot Pro Stabilized, any issues golfers have with taking a steady shot of their target can expect them to vanish with this rangefinder. More accurate results and likely speedier rounds (yay), what’s not to love?

This lessening of the vibration works in conjunction with Locked On technology, and it’s a powerful combination that creates a premium rangefinder. The Locked On technology in the Coolshot Pro Stabilized allows golfers to home in on their target, without the fear of the rangefinder locking onto the wrong target in the background. A small green circle frames your desired target, making sure that it is giving you the correct distance for your shot, and it’s not only extremely accurate but quick too. The Hyper Read Tech allows users to find the distance they want according to the company in “0.3 seconds – regardless of distance.” A claim that is difficult to dispute.

Another great feature of the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is its ID Technology. This technology takes care of all the incline, slope etc. The rangefinder from Nikon accurately reads the yardage taking into account the downhill or uphill nature of the pin, while the product also lets other competitors know when the ID Technology is off. If you’re competing in an event, a green flashing light indicates that the ID Technology is turned off, making it clear that actual distance is what you’re measuring, and that you’re abiding by all the rules.

Now let’s get down to the size, which makes all of the features we’ve talked about even more impressive. As you can see from our in-hand photos, the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is tiny and weighs just 180g. The advantages of having a small rangefinder are obvious as it can be carried or kept in even the smallest pocket of your bag easily, and the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is also both waterproof and nitrogen-purged to make it fog-proof. The range finder also features six different brightness levels and comes with a sweet 5-year warranty.

At around $450 the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is high-end and not cheap. But with the impressive features and high performance, it’s a product which combined with Nikon’s 5-year warranty justifies that price-tag. If you’re looking for a top-shelf rangefinder, then the Coolshot Pro Stabilized is very unlikely to disappoint.

WRX Spotlight: Stitch SL1 golf bag

Pitch: From Stitch: “Designed using Stitch Golf’s durable Touring Fabric, a proprietary product used in the SL1 golf bag as well as the Ultimate Garment Bag (UGB) that has the strength of leather, but is more durable, lightweight and waterproof. The SL1 is sleek in design and weighs only 57 oz, making it “the perfect caddie bag” or the perfect cart bag.”

Our take on the Stitch SL1 golf bag

Stitch Golf may be best known for its headcovers, but just like its headcovers, the SL1 golf bag stands out, and for all the right reasons.

The bags feature bright colors, and the clean and classic look gives off a feeling of nostalgia. While the retro look is undoubtedly appealing, there are plenty of modern features that make these bags a serious competitor at the moment.

The SL1 golf bag weighs just 57 oz, so you can see why the company describe the product as “the perfect caddie bag.” The low weight is a huge advantage, and to provide a super light bag such as this, Stitch has concentrated on minimalism and pulled it off. The bag features two side pockets which are deep enough to carry the necessities for any round. While sitting above the two deeper pockets are two smaller pockets, designed to provide golfers with the opportunity to store their car keys, wallet etc., and a space for a small water bottle.

The actual stand features thin legs that are strong and create an excellent base for the bag to rest, while the angle which the bag sits at makes it very comfortable for getting your clubs in and out without any difficulty. The SL1 features a single strap, emphasizing just how light this bag is, and makes it an ideal bag for walkers on the course, while the bag also fits comfortably onto carts. While you may think a light bag such as the SL1 may not be ideal in harsh weather conditions, the bag is waterproof and comes with an attachable matching rain hood, which is a very cool addition.

The concern with svelte bags such as the SL1 is usually the number of clubs you can comfortably carry. With the SL1, however, that concern isn’t there, with the bag easily holding 14 clubs, without the prospect of the clubs getting stuck all the time.

All bags come with an orange “Stitch” logo near the front of the bag. The orange “Stitch” logo, it’s also worth noting, from my perspective looks very striking and possibly at it’s best on the “Brushed Forest Green” SL1.

The personalization options are one of my particular favorite features of the SL1. Along with the Stitch logo, golfers have the option of either getting a two-letter personalization which sits on the upper portion of the large right pocket, or a three letter horizontal personalization. The simple looking personalization suits the style of the bag perfectly.

With plenty to shout about, the Stitch SL1 also comes with a steep price tag. At $328, the SL1 sits among premium-priced golf bags, and with its classic, minimalist look, many golfers will be looking for some extra funky features for that price, which is understandable. But it’s that classic look that makes the SL1 so appealing, and in a market full of big bags with fancy gadgets, the SL1 delivers on all the essentials while offering golfers the opportunity to stand out on the course with a sleek, stylish looking bag from an independent business.

WRX Spotlight: AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones

Honestly, this is not a review we intended on doing. Wireless headphones were not on our radar for 2019, and certainly not on our list of “golf essential” equipment. But an ad for Aftershokz headphones caught our eye. Sleek. Lightweight and “Open Ear”? We needed to check them out in person. With that, here we are.

Basically, this is a wireless headset with bluetooth connectivity with and open ear design. You can still hear your music AND the world around you at the same time. It’s a bit of genius. If you like sports but are one of those “one earbud in, one out so you can hear your surroundings” people, AfterShokz is marketing to you.

Pitch: From AfterShokz: “The next generation of bone conduction technology is what’s inside our lightest and most organically designed open ear headphones to date. We cut the bulk and used titanium everywhere possible to ensure they not only fit more securely but sound better too. Trekz Air are inspired by the demands of elite and aspiring athletes motivated by their music and their world.”

Our take on the AfterShokz Trekz

While the AfterShokz Trekz Air are not golf specific, they are a nearly perfect accessory for your range practice time. They are comfortable, sweat and water resistant and have very good sound. The open air nature is a huge plus, so you can still hear the world around you while listening to music, a recorded lesson, or a golf tempo trainer. Aftershokz claims up to a 6-hours of continuous use on a single charge. We found that to be fairly accurate.

While the $149 price point is not small change, these are not golf specific and can be worn daily. We found them to be plenty comfortable jogging, biking and just running errands. Some reviewers on the internet claim they weren’t as comfortable on the ears over a long period of time, but we didn’t experience it. We were able to wear them comfortably for extended periods with and without glasses or with or without a hat or helmet.

Very impressed.

One criticism is we felt the mic functionality was a little spotty. The users on the other end had some difficulty hearing us on the phone. It works in a pinch, but for longer conversations, we thought it was just easier to disconnect the device and put the phone to our ear.

While AfterShokz Trekz Air wireless headphones won’t make your golf game better, their one of our favorite golf accessories of 2019 so far.